March 17, 2017, issue of 'AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition'


VOL 17, ISSUE 11	March 17, 2017

Training Tips

Sponsored by Aircraft Spruce

Slips and mistakes

There's an old hangar tale about an instructor in a biplane who tapped his student on the shoulder and then detached and tossed his control stick overboard, intending to communicate that it was up to the student to complete the flight. The student, eager to please, did the same. That probably didn't happen, but this tale illustrates an important distinction between "slips" and "mistakes." Read more >

Flight Training News

Advocacy

FAA updating guidance for Part 141 pilot training

The FAA has issued a draft advisory circular that updates official guidance for the certification of 14 CFR Part 141 pilot schools. Read more >

Article

Texas State Tech is 'workforce training engine'

Texas State Technical College is steeped in aviation history and has hosted the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and captured the National Intercollegiate Flying Association two-year division crown—and one graduate helped build SpaceShipTwo. (Photo courtesy of Texas State Technical College.) Read more >

Article

Folding seat concept advances in Airbus challenge

Four Iowa State aeronautical engineering students are representing the United States in a worldwide Airbus engineering challenge. The team's concept—folding seats to free up airline space during boarding—advanced them to the second round of the competition. (Photo courtesy of team CyFly.) Read more >

Article

Helicopter show sees lift in training

The Helicopter Association International's HAI Heli-Expo in Dallas this year saw several announcements related to helicopter training. (Photo courtesy of Redbird.) Read more >

Scholarships

Article

Aviation scholarship opportunities abound in March

From academia and aviation advocacy groups to community foundations and organizations dedicated to helping young people explore their futures, a wide variety of programs are accepting scholarship applications this month. Read more >

AOPA Live

AOPA Live This Week

Secrets of great instruction; Navy pilots fly Magic Carpet

Look behind the scenes at a Florida flight school that topped the list in the AOPA 2016 Flight Training Excellence Awards and see what makes it stand out. Also this week, be among the first to see how the U.S. Navy's Magic Carpet makes carrier landings relatively simple. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, March 16 >

Training Products and Resources

What's in a sign?

What do yellow chevron pavement markings signify? Test your knowledge with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Airport Signs and Markings quiz. Correctly interpreting the various signs at a glance is one of the best ways to avoid a runway incursion. Take the quiz >

'Practical Safety Management Systems' details procedures

A new book from Aviation Supplies & Academics explains sensible safety management methods that are required of most professional air operations. Practical Safety Management Systems illuminates a systematic approach to aviation industry safety and includes valuable information for flight departments, contractors, and others seeking to follow a no-nonsense approach to safety. The book is available online in a variety of formats starting at $34.95.

Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.

Member Benefits

Pilot Protection Services

Medication name game

If you take any kind of medication, determine whether you really need it, whether the FAA permits you to take it and still fly, whether it interacts with other medicines you are taking, where it is located (if it is something you might need to take quickly), and how to pronounce it. Read more >

AOPA Member Benefit

AOPA offers options for commercial drone operations

AOPA Insurance Services works with several insurance companies to offer coverage for drones including liability protection, additional coverage for payloads (cameras, equipment, etc.), and options to cover the drone itself. Read more >

Contest

Share your hidden gem

Pilots are always looking for new adventures. Share your favorite destination in the Hidden Gem contest, sponsored by Aviat Aircraft, to enter for a chance to win a weekend of backcountry flying in an Aviat Husky along the Salmon River in Idaho. Learn more >

Livestream

Find out what BasicMed means for you

Learn how to take advantage of the new BasicMed regulations once they go into effect May 1. AOPA experts will discuss who can fly under BasicMed, what qualifying pilots need to do, and which aircraft qualify during an AOPA Pilot Protection Services livestream March 22 at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Register now >

Blogs

AOPA Fly-Ins: Get there if you can

Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas touts the benefits of the AOPA Regional Fly-Ins' hands-on, intensive workshops that feature tracks for maintenance, instrument flying, extreme flying, weather, and a special program for pilots and their nonpilot companions. Read more >

Instrument Tip

AOPA Premier Partner created content

Approach lighting for IFR pilots

This new, six-minute video from AOPA Premier Partner PilotWorkshops describes the different approach lighting systems and how they affect your final approach and landing, especially in instrument meteorological conditions. Watch this short refresher and learn how a deeper understanding of approach lighting can help you in the final phase of your flight. (Image courtesy of PilotWorkshops.) Watch the video >

Plane Spotter

When cats fly

From alfalfa fields to airshows, aerial application aircraft, otherwise known as agricultural airplanes or simply agplanes, put power and structural sturdiness to use. Plane spotters can identify the agplane on the ramp by its adherence to the form-following-function principle, but that was not always the case. The 1950s-era Grumman Ag-Cat, a biplane powered by a variety of big radial engines, was the first aircraft designed specifically for agriculture. Airshow performer Gene Soucy flies a highly modified Ag-Cat called Showcat. He considers it the perfect airshow airplane.

Final Exam

Question

I am a student training for my private pilot certificate, and I have the opportunity to fly a Cessna 172 with a friend who is a private pilot. Can I log that time as pilot in command?

Answer

No, you cannot log the time. According to 14 CFR 61.51(e)(iv)(D)(4)(i), a student pilot may log PIC time only when he or she "is the sole occupant of the aircraft or is performing the" pilot-in-command duties "of an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember." However, the flight will be good experience for you.

Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time) or from AOPA Online. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.

Career Opportunities

Aviation job board

Job of the week: Drone data technician

Blue River Technology is looking for a technician to collect and process drone imagery from the heavy-lift multirotor drone to image crops at research farms near Lubbock, Texas. This position will assist with analyzing the imagery collected by the drone, and will assist the pilot during flight to ensure the target area is covered. Read the full description and apply today >

AOPA career opportunities

Join the AOPA team

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a flight training technology senior director, design manager, aviation insurance sales director, graphic design intern, executive office manager, project manager, UI/front-end developer, public affairs and executive communications manager, communications coordinator, legal services plan attorney, digital asset manager and graphic designer, aviation event operations senior manager, travel and destination products director, insurance program administration manager, donor relations director, flying clubs initiative director, lead aircraft maintenance and aviation technical specialist, and part-time administrative assistant. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online >

Education & Seminars

Flight Instructor Refresher Courses

Mar 18-19	Ontario, California; and Santa Clara, California
Apr 1-2	Atlanta, Georgia; Dedham, Massachusetts; Dulles, Virginia; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Tampa, Florida
Apr 8-9	Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; and San Diego, California
May 6-7	Albany, New York; Hollywood, Florida; and Pensacola, Florida

For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.

Safety Seminars

Mar 20	Bedford, Massachusetts; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Ypsilanti, Michigan
Mar 21	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Independence, Ohio
Mar 22	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Columbus, Ohio
Mar 23	King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; and Batavia, Ohio

Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.

Rusty Pilots Seminars

Mar 18	Torrance, California; Lima, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; Berkley Township, New Jersey; Homestead, Florida; and Galveston, Texas
Mar 25	Orlando, Florida; Kennesaw, Georgia; Spencer, Iowa; Burlington, Iowa; Sarasota, Florida; Belleville, Michigan; Van Nuys, California; Gaithersburg, Maryland; Bedford, Massachusetts; and Olathe, Kansas
Apr 1	South Portland, Maine; Hayden, Idaho; Mansfield, Massachusetts; Watkins, Colorado; Glencoe, Minnesota; Murphysboro, Illinois; College Station, Texas; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and Aurora, Oregon
Apr 5	Lakeland, Florida

For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.

Aviation Calendar

Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See AOPA's enhanced calendar of events. You can filter events by date range, airport ID, state, or region. Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.

To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA Airports. AOPA does not endorse or assume responsibility for the events submitted and listed in the calendar.

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ePilot Flight Training Editors: Alyssa Miller Jim Moore Dan Namowitz David Tulis Production Team: Elizabeth Linares Melissa Whitehouse	Contributors: Mike Collins Sarah Deener Dave Hirschman Tom Horne Warren Morningstar Jill W. Tallman Ian J. Twombly Julie Summers Walker	*Advertise in ePilot:* Gary Brennan, 301/695-2052 Eastern and Central United States and International: Jeff Rockwood, 301/695-2089 Western United States: Tom Linton, 301/695-2055 AOPA Advertising website
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